Q: for Paul S.

[Tom]

Hi.

Need to ask you a very specific question about one of your models in which i assume you used a B/W map to extrude the continent outlines on a sphere.
I have tried to make a similar looking earth model, but just can`t seem to get the extrusion to be as smooth as the one you`ve made!?

If you don`t mind telling....how and in which application did you use to make this model?

So far i`ve gotten the best result using a slightly blurred map in EI, but i`ve also tried to extrude it in amorphium which worked pretty good except for some really ugly spiked artifacts at the entry/exit areas of the Z-axis.
I have also tried numerous tessalation settings on spheres exported out of EIM and of course also on the Ubershape sphere.

Still can`t manage to get the "outline" smoothness you`ve achived?!

What`s your magic?? :)

Thanks.
Tom.

[Paul S.]

I think I know which one you mean.....was an experiment in the first months of doing 3D.

I used FormZ and used a fairly high res greyscale map....still the polar regions are a little bit harsh.

Amorphium will also work but need a very high res mesh and if I remember correctly the polar regions are even more un-smoothed than FormZ.

I think it is possible to use Amorphium and use the smooth brush on the polar regions and make it look good.

[Tom]

Hi.

Thanks for your reply, Paul.

I made a really dense sphere in EIM and brought it into amorphium ( v.1.0 ).
Looked OK, but still got those artifacts even after smoothing it really hard.
Do you recall if your greyscale map had sharp edges or if it was blurred?

I also tried to extrude a flat plane in EIU which i then used "sphere wrap" on.
Looks very good, but it slowed down my machine considerably.

Any other software which does "extrude from greyscale" in a nice way?

Thanks.
Tom.

[kevmo]

Image to Mesh plug or Image 2 Relief by Oblicard is an EI plug and free and allows you to edit mesh and animate too. CyberMesh is another for Photoshop and is free also.

I've made some nice globe maps with both - they both can choke (crash) if the maps are too hires or the mesh too dense.

http://members.aol.com/olbicard/

http://www.commotionpro.com/downloads/free_downloads.html

[Tom]

Hi.

For some odd reason that`s a solution that did`nt cross my mind.
Thanks for pointing me in that direction :)

Tom.